Gum Disease Raises Arthritis Risk

Posted 3:57 PM 10/20/2009

Oct. 20, 2009 (Philadelphia) -- Brush and floss! Gum disease may raise your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a new study shows.

"We've known for a while that there is an association between gum disease and rheumatoid (More)
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Bouncing Back From Low Back Pain

Posted 6:30 AM 10/7/2009

Oct. 6, 2009 -- Got a new case of low back pain? There's a good chance you'll recover completely within a year, a new study shows.

That study, published online in BMJ, included 973 people in Sydney, Australia who sought care for a new case of low back pain.

The (More)
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Advanced Gum Disease May Raise Cancer Risk

Posted 4:00 AM 9/9/2009

Sept. 8, 2009 -- Taking care of your teeth and gums may not only save your smile, it could save your life. A new study suggests a common form of gum disease may significantly raise the risk of head and neck cancer.

Researchers found that people diagnosed with head and neck cancers were much more likely to have chronic periodontitis than people without cancer. Periodontitis is (More)
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Sen. Edward Kennedy Dies of Brain Cancer

Posted 1:00 PM 8/26/2009

Aug. 26, 2009 -- Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy died late last night at his home in Hyannis Port, Mass., of brain cancer at age 77.

Kennedy had a malignant glioma, a type of brain cancer. A glioma is a brain tumor that begins in glial cells, which are cells that surround and support (More)
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FDA: Mercury Fillings Not Harmful

Posted 9:37 PM 7/28/2009

July 28, 2009 -- The mercury used in dental amalgam fillings is not at a level high enough to cause harm in patients, according to the FDA, which today issued its final regulation on the controversial tooth filling material.

However, the agency tightened its controls on mercury fillings, classifying the encapsulated amalgams now commonly sold to (More)
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Tonsillectomy Helps Children Breathe, Sleep

Posted 8:06 PM 7/20/2009

July 20, 2009 - A simple surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoid glands may help children with sleep-disordered breathing sleep and even behave better.

A new study shows that children with sleep-disordered breathing who received an adenotonsillectomy slept and (More)
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Scientists Find New Gene Clues About Brain Cancers Called Gliomas

Posted 8:24 PM 7/15/2009

July 15, 2009 -- Scientists have identified a network of up to 31 genes linked to brain tumors called gliomas, including one that may be a target for new treatments.

Those discoveries are featured in two new studies published in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

In the first study, scientists identify up to 31 genes that (More)
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Comfrey Root Eases Back Pain

Posted 3:13 PM 5/21/2009

May 21, 2009 -- People who suffer from acute back pain may find relief in the form of comfrey root, a plant long thought to have medicinal value.

A new study, funded by the drug company Merck and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, showed that people with acute back pain who used an ointment containing comfrey root extract had significant (More)
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Acupuncture May Ease Chronic Back Pain

Posted 8:47 PM 5/11/2009

May 11, 2009 -- The ancient technique of acupuncture helps relieve chronic back pain better than standard care such as medications or physical therapy, according to a new (More)
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FDA OKs Avastin for Glioblastoma Brain Cancer

Posted 3:34 PM 5/6/2009

May 6, 2009 -- The FDA has approved the drug Avastin to treat a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma that progresses despite treatment with other therapies.

Genentech, the company that makes Avastin, announced the FDA's approval, calling Avastin the first new treatment for glioblastoma in more than a decade.

According to Genentech, the FDA based its (More)
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Hands-On Relief From Back Pain

Posted 10:48 PM 4/6/2009

April 6, 2009 -- Back pain can be a big pain in the neck. To deal with it, many U.S. adults favor hands-on therapies such as chiropractic manipulation, massage, and physical therapy, a new survey says.

Consumer Reports says in its May issue that 80% of adults in the U.S. report having been bothered by back pain at some point in their (More)
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Sports Drinks May Damage Your Teeth

Posted 5:01 PM 4/3/2009

April 3, 2009 -- Sports drinks may boost your energy, but they can also weaken your teeth, a new study shows.

The popular energy drinks sipped by many athletes to increase stamina contain levels of acid that can cause tooth erosion, hypersensitivity, and staining, according to the findings of New York University dental researchers.

The beverages also can cause excessive tooth wear and may damage underlying bone-like material, causing teeth to soften (More)
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